Research

For 100 years, Doane has connected first-hand farmer intelligence with agribusiness professionals, purchasing directors and government agencies. Leveraging agriculture’s largest farm database, through Farm Journal, we survey and talk to more farmers & ranchers than any other ag-analysis company – and then bring that exclusive insight to our clients.

Insights

Agriculture is a dynamic, complex and volatile market, requiring sound information and time-tested insight for agribusiness decision makers. As demand for trusted information continues to grow, Doane Advisory Services helps you anticipate market shifts, allowing you to manage risk and make informed decisions for your business.

About Us

About Doane

By focusing on the information clients truly need, Doane provides on-point analysis and advice without information overload. Our 5-year and 10-year market forecasts are a proven indicator of future market trends, while our short-term market analysis provides clients the timely information they need to make important decisions today.

Started in 1919 by Mr. D. Howard Doane, Doane Advisory Services was built with the vision of creating a more efficient, productive agriculture industry. Acquired by Farm Journal in 2015, Doane Advisory Services is a market leader for agricultural economic information and outlook. Doane’s economists combine Farm Journal’s deep farm-data content with its proven models and analysis – which distinguish Doane as the only advisory services with direct contact with America’s farmers and ranchers.

The Doane Promise

Providing research, analysis and insight with a personal component is the promise delivered to each and every client. Every Doane Advisory Services client has a simple, one-step process to contact a Doane economist for an e-mail or phone consultation. Knowing our clients allows us to understand their information needs.

Our Team

Add 105 years of industry experience to your research portfolio.

Bill NelsonChief Economist

Bill Nelson is a Chief economist with Doane Advisory Services with 40 years of experience in in commodity crop research, analysis and forecasting. Bill has specialized in grains, oil seeds and cotton and is a frequent advisor on weather and climate issues that impact global crop production. Bill’s has a BS in Meteorology from Iowa State University and a MS in Agronomy from Purdue University. Bill grew up on a corn, soybean, cattle and hogs farm in central Iowa where the family farm is still active in agricultural production.

Dan VaughtSenior Economist

Dan Vaught is a senior economist with Doane Advisory Services. He has been engaged in commodity market analysis for 27 years. Since earning his master’s degree in agricultural economics from the University of Arkansas, Dan has been involved in commodity market research and analysis, specializing in fundamental analysis and studying supply/demand factors and price charts to find market opportunities for clients. Dan specializes in livestock markets, including cattle, hogs and dairy.

Rob HatchettSenior Economist

Rob Hatchett is a senior economist with Doane Advisory Services, where he has over 10 years of experience in various aspects of the ag industry, with previous positions at Stratas Foods, Informa Economics and Gavilon Grain. For Doane, he is currently the vegetable oil and wheat analyst. Rob has a BA in agribusiness from the University of Arkansas and an MS in agricultural economics from Oklahoma State University. He is currently a resident of Memphis, TN.

Jim WiesemeyerPolicy Analyst

Located Washington, D.C., Jim Wiesemeyer provides latest information on agricultural policy and trade developments. Jim is a regular speaker for farm groups, agribusiness conferences and client consultations. Since 1978, he has frequently reported on and interviewed senior government officials, including Presidents Reagan and Carter, as well as several USDA Secretaries. Jim contributes daily analysis and commentary on policy and trade to Doane's sister property Pro Farmer.

Brian GreteMarket Analyst

Brian Grete is Editor of Pro Farmer and a regular contributor to Doane Advisory Services. An expert on risk management and commodity analysis, Brian’s regular appearances on AgDay TV, and U.S. Farm Report have made him well known and respected throughout the industry. Brian is a frequent presenter at ag seminars and conferences, and is the Director for the Pro Farmer Midwest Crop Tour.

Riley HigbyVice President of Revenue

Mr. Higby is the Vice President of Revenue at Doane Advisory Services. Mr.Higby has over a decade of professional experience in consulting, commodity research, and agribusiness sales. Riley’s career incudes time with AgStar Financial Services and Informa Economics where he has worked with more than 150 clients on a variety of strategic and consulting endeavors. Mr. Higby grew up on a commercial cattle operation in western Idaho and earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Agricultural Economics from the University of Idaho.

Margo Dill BalinskiClient Services Manager/Editorial Assistant

Margo Dill Balinski is Doane’s editorial assistant and client services manager with over 13 years of experience in writing and editing. Since joining Doane in 2015, her responsibilities include creating and editing publications, fulfilling reports, collecting data, writing articles, managing digital and social media and providing personal support to clients. Margo has a BS in English and an MAE in elementary education from Truman State University in Kirksville, MO. She lives in St. Louis.

Jim WyckoffConsultant

Jim Wyckoff is a consultant for Doane Advisory Services, often contributing his expertise in technical analysis and market psychology. He has spent over 30 years involved full-time with the stock, financial, currency and commodity markets. For 17 of these years, he was a financial journalist with the FWN newswire service. Jim received his undergraduate degree from Iowa State University. He studied journalism and economics and currently resides at Lake Panorama, Iowa.

Ed ShulmanKey Accounts Director

Ed Shulman is the Key Accounts Director for Doane Advisory Services. Based in Chicago, Ed has 20 years of professional experience in commodity trading, commodity software sales, and agribusiness consulting & research account management. Prior to joining Doane, Ed held sales and account representative positions at Trading Technologies and Informa Economics, working with a diverse client group across the entire agribusiness value chain. Ed graduated from Michigan State University with a BA in Economics.

Ag Insight

Timely weekly analysis of two or three developing forces that are impacting the major crop and livestock outlooks for acreages and crop and protein production, demand, and prices. Trade policies, weather, farm and commodity related legislation, income, currencies, and geopolitical impacts are among many potential topics in any individual week.

Quarterly five-year annual acreage forecast table for 23 U.S. row crops and discussions of factors shaping the major outlooks

Implications of the latest ag news on crop and protein related forecasts

International Agriculture Outlook Report

Ten-year forecasts for coarse grains, corn, soybeans, wheat, cotton and rice. In addition to the World and U.S. forecasts, can find forecasts for 16 countries or major regions that encompass all foreign production for the indicated commodities. Described as a “must-have” for serious consumers of global agriculture information. The report distills and conveys big-picture trends found in the global data.

News2Use

Each issue provides a useful summary of the month’s major developments. It’s divided into categories like crops, livestock or farm income, making it easy to scan and find exactly the information you need.

Includes “The View from Here,” a valuable column sharing Doane’s perspective that may reshape conclusions traders have drawn.

Cash price charts for key commodities

Forecasts for current year and the year ahead

Frequency: Monthly

Ag News Weekly

A concise report divided into three primary sections:

Developments in the Markets: Key driving forces behind the week’s market action and our take on the week ahead.

Developments in the Ag Sector: The most important developments for agribusiness in geopolitics, agricultural trade, global weather and more.

Contact Us

Request a trial report, schedule a private consultation or share your unique information needs and learn how
Doane Advisory Services can bring its industry leading research, analysis and insights to your organization. Simply fill out the form below, call or email us today.

Doane Advisory Services is part of Farm Journal, the nation’s leading business information and media company serving the agricultural market.